Architectural Design Standards

ADS 4.11 Parapets & Cornices

ADS 4.11.1 Intent.

In order to visually terminate an exterior wall on a flat-roofed building, a cornice on a parapet wall shall be used. This cornice provides a minimal amount of protection to the wall that a pitched roof overhang would normally provide.

Standard:

ADS 4.11.2 Required Parapets and Cornices.

All flat roofs shall have a parapet and a cornice on all facades or walls. Flashing at the top of a parapet shall not qualify as a cornice. Cornices shall be in proportion with the size, scale, and architectural detailing of the building. Buildings in MXD shall only be required to provide parapets and cornices on street-facing facades and walls. Cornices in MXD shall return at least eight (8) feet around corners that transition from a building wall that requires a cornice to a building wall that does not require a cornice.

ADS 4.11.3 Parapet Height.

The height of a parapet shall be in proportion with the size, scale, and architectural detailing of the building and generally shall not exceed ten (10) feet in height.

ADS 4.11.4 Parapets used as Screens.

Parapets shall be the primary method of screening roof-top mechanical equipment. (UDO Chapter 18.450.100).

ADS 4.11.5 Cornices for Building Projections.

Flat roofs projecting from a street-facing facade or active wall shall include a cornice; this cornice shall return back to a wall or roof or generally shall return eight (8) feet or it shall be continuous around the entire projection.

ADS 4.11.6 Parapet Modulation.

A parapet more than 90 feet in length shall include a change in parapet height or pitched roof height at least every 90 feet. This change in height shall align with the vertical building bays. Buildings larger than 50,000 square feet shall include both pitched and flat roofs with parapets. Buildings in a Mixed-Use District shall be exempt from the parapet modulation standard.

Don’t Do This:
The street-facing facade on this flat-roofed building does not have a cornice.	This parapet does not modulate

Do This:
The cornice returns at least 8 feet.	The cornice correctly continues around an entire building projection.
The parapet and cornice returns back into a pitched roof.	The parapet on this building modulates; cornices correctly return at least 8 feet at exterior corners.

Effective on: 1/1/1901